The Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs have gone in vastly different directions since splitting two meetings in Detroit in June.
The Cubs went 36-23 following that series and own one of the wild card spots in the NL. The Tigers are just 25-32 and have fallen back in the AL.
ODDS ANALYSIS
Both teams are in unfamiliar territory for mid-August. Chicago is in excellent position to make the playoffs for the first time since 2008 while Detroit faces an uphill climb to extend its playoff streak to five seasons. Chicago’s rise has been fueled by a 15-2 stretch, highlighted by a nine-game win streak that ended with Sunday’s loss to the White Sox. After their brief cross-town road trip, the Cubs return to Wrigley Field where they enter the series with eight straight victories going 6-2 on the over. Since getting swept at home by the Phillies on July 24-26, the Cubs are 9-1 in the Friendly Confines up 7.59 units. The Tigers finish up their eight-game road trip after going 2-4 through the first six where they are down 1.11 units. The Cubs have won each of Jon Lester’s last three starts giving him 19 total runs of support while the lefty has allowed just two runs in each outing.
PITCHING MATCHUP
The centerpiece in the David Price deal, young lefty Daniel Norris (2-2, 4.24 ERA) makes his fourth start for the Tigers on a week’s rest after tossing 6.1 innings with four runs – three earned – last Wednesday in a no-decision at Kansas City. Norris has two mediocre starts after a strong debut with his new club and will look to establish himself in Detroit’s rotation down the stretch.
Norris pitched a scoreless inning of relief last season against the Cubs and will be making his first appearance at Wrigley Field.
Jon Lester (8-8, 3.21 ERA) became the first Cubs lefty to record four starts with 10 or more strikeouts in a season when he whiffed 10 Brewers in a 9-2 win Thursday. He scattered seven hits with two walks in six innings for his third straight win. Lester is 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA in his past five starts, giving up two runs or fewer in each of those games.
Lester is 2-5 with a 5.25 ERA in 10 career starts against the Tigers, including a loss June 9 in Detroit when he gave up five runs and nine hits in 4.1 innings in a 6-0 game.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“You’re not going to win them all, man. That doesn’t happen. We’ve been playing really well. We continue to play really well. We just ran into a good pitcher and that was the difference in the game.” – Cubs manager Joe Maddon after the team’s nine-game winning streak was halted Sunday in a 3-1 loss to the White Sox.
LIVE BETTING or SITUATIONAL BETTING
It took all of one game for Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera to regain his devastating swing and confirm the decision made by the club to not send him out on a rehab assignment following his return from the disabled list. Cabrera recorded his second consecutive multi-hit game on Sunday with a double, home run and two walks. The homer was his 16th on the season and his first since June 17, roughly two weeks before he was lost for 35 games to a calf strain. Cabrera went 4 for 7 in the final two games against Houston over the weekend after going hitless Friday in his return.
PROP TALK
Chicago’s No. 2 prospect Kyle Schwarber has done it all since joining the club for good on July 17. He’s played left field, catcher and was the team’s primary designated hitter in AL parks. He’s also hit. While the average has dipped slightly, he’s still hitting for power with four home runs and 14 RBIs over his last 11 games. He’ll face Daniel Norris for the first time with a slash line of .313/.400/.580 with eight home runs and 27 RBIs in 112 at-bats.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
I like the Cubs chances given they have Jon Lester on the hill and they’ve been playing good baseball for the last few weeks. But the Tigers have Miguel Cabrera back in the lineup and they have a history of treating Lester rudely, so something has to give. Lester is pitching like the ace the Cubs shelled out a lot of money for and the kids on the Chicago roster have been hitting like many expected them to. They got knocked off track Sunday by a legitimate hurler in Chris Sale, however Daniel Norris isn’t at that level yet.
Chicago 6, Detroit 4
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